Maria Charbonneau
EDC 102 H – Academic Development
When I was ten years old, I became the third child in my family to receive a black belt in Karate. My younger brother, Nick, received his the same night as well. Together, he and I had survived grueling lessons, harsh criticism, fierce competition, and taxing physical exertion. We were stronger because of it all.
Karate consumed all of our time outside of school. We went for runs with fellow students after school during the weekdays, attended lessons and workout sessions, and a class on Saturday mornings. Friends from school would call asking me to attend parties and other functions but it was a rare day when I could find the time to join them.
Only my closest friends and family knew about the role Karate played in our lives. I rarely told anyone of my aspirations to become a black belt because I felt it was a personal struggle- a dream that only I could make into a reality. I struggled with the physical expectations and a knee injury set me far behind my peers in my Karate class. But I had come so far; as a brown belt, I was a mere twelve months from realizing my goal. I set my shoulders and trudged forward. My younger brother gave me added strength whenever I needed to hear words of encouragement; looking back, I am not sure I could have achieved my goal without him at the time.
In hindsight, it is easy to recognize the influence Karate has had on my development academically. Through Karate, I learned to persevere even when odds seemed stacked against me. With enough grit and determination, I knew I could master any scholastic obstacle. When Biology presented itself to be a beast during my junior year in high school, I fell back on the lessons I had learned through Karate and trudged forward. I worked relentlessly on my Biology homework and spent countless hours studying the material. I refused to let that class get the best of me.
Additionally, Karate gave me an invaluable lesson in character development. I learned to respect my body and because of it, I’ve eschewed drugs and other contaminants. I would never consider smoking. Indirectly, because of the values that were garnered in my youth, I have become a role model for the younger members of my extended family.
Essentially, Karate initiated a “domino effect” in my life. Because of this influence, I steered clear of drugs, kept out of trouble, and focused on school. As a result, I developed a realistic work ethic and I am able to manage my homework time in a reasonable fashion. I am not at all sure that I would have been able to master this skill without the ever-constant influence of Karate in my youth. It was a positive experience from which I will continue to reap benefit.
EDC 102 H – Academic Development
When I was ten years old, I became the third child in my family to receive a black belt in Karate. My younger brother, Nick, received his the same night as well. Together, he and I had survived grueling lessons, harsh criticism, fierce competition, and taxing physical exertion. We were stronger because of it all.
Karate consumed all of our time outside of school. We went for runs with fellow students after school during the weekdays, attended lessons and workout sessions, and a class on Saturday mornings. Friends from school would call asking me to attend parties and other functions but it was a rare day when I could find the time to join them.
Only my closest friends and family knew about the role Karate played in our lives. I rarely told anyone of my aspirations to become a black belt because I felt it was a personal struggle- a dream that only I could make into a reality. I struggled with the physical expectations and a knee injury set me far behind my peers in my Karate class. But I had come so far; as a brown belt, I was a mere twelve months from realizing my goal. I set my shoulders and trudged forward. My younger brother gave me added strength whenever I needed to hear words of encouragement; looking back, I am not sure I could have achieved my goal without him at the time.
In hindsight, it is easy to recognize the influence Karate has had on my development academically. Through Karate, I learned to persevere even when odds seemed stacked against me. With enough grit and determination, I knew I could master any scholastic obstacle. When Biology presented itself to be a beast during my junior year in high school, I fell back on the lessons I had learned through Karate and trudged forward. I worked relentlessly on my Biology homework and spent countless hours studying the material. I refused to let that class get the best of me.
Additionally, Karate gave me an invaluable lesson in character development. I learned to respect my body and because of it, I’ve eschewed drugs and other contaminants. I would never consider smoking. Indirectly, because of the values that were garnered in my youth, I have become a role model for the younger members of my extended family.
Essentially, Karate initiated a “domino effect” in my life. Because of this influence, I steered clear of drugs, kept out of trouble, and focused on school. As a result, I developed a realistic work ethic and I am able to manage my homework time in a reasonable fashion. I am not at all sure that I would have been able to master this skill without the ever-constant influence of Karate in my youth. It was a positive experience from which I will continue to reap benefit.